[ggandv]

Generally concur but I wish we wouldn’t squander credibility by making claims like, “travel for attend conferences (a key part of science!).”

Oh come on. Conferences are a monument to waste if ever there was. It’s all kickbacks and hotel and airline industry lobbying and protectionism. Some conferences may be better than others I’m sure, but no, science does not depend upon travel to conferences.

[cmontella]

Science absolutely depends on people meeting and exchanging ideas. Whether that happens at a conference as they exist today is one thing, but if you don't spend money on getting people from around the world to meet and exchange ideas, you're going to lose a key aspect of the scientific process.